Djokovic: “Playing against Nadal at Roland Garros is a supreme challenge”

The Serbian Novak Djokovicwho will participate in the 1,000 Masters in Rome after not participating in Madrid, has been assured of playing against the Spaniard Rafa Nadal and Roland Garros This is one of the “tennis’ greatest challenge” because you feel it “It’s impenetrable, like a wall.”

‘Nole’ arrives in Rome as world number 1, as favorite after defeats to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner, and has a rest after missing out on Madrid.

“Going to Madrid is not part of the plan, but it is part of the plan to come here to Rome”he explained, briefly, in a press conference.

“I am physically well. I have had time to rest and train well. I came to Rome with time to be in the center and interact with other good tennis players. I am on a good path to be the best at Roland Garros . The desire is to improve the level of Monte-Carlo,” he commented.

The Serbian gave up on Nadal again: “Playing against him at Roland Garros is probably one of the biggest challenges you can have on the tennis tour. We know his records there. And I probably played more than any other player played against him during the clue”.

“The court is bigger. There is more space, which visually affects the game and the player’s feeling on the court. He likes to stay quite far back and when he’s really inspired, he doesn’t make mistakes. You feel that it’s impenetrable, that it’s like a wall,” he explains.

“Playing against him at Roland Garros is a supreme challenge. He is an incredible athlete. The tenacity and intensity he has on the track, especially there, is something rarely seen in the history of this sport,” he asserted.

“I’m sure it will be a very emotional tournament for him, like Madrid maybe and this one in Rome will be. But there especially because of the records he has,” he said.

Djokovic also spoke about the changes in his work team: “I am currently working with a coach who I have worked with for many years. It was not difficult for me to adapt to his program and strategy. We know each other and we have -synchronized from the beginning in terms of what we want to do, how we want to approach the training program on and off the field.

“I am happy with the last 14 days in terms of training, in terms of preparation for this tournament, but mainly for Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, which is the block where we prepare the most, ” he clarified. .

The number 1 commented on the rumors of the retirement of the Austrian Dominic Thiem.

“I have a lot of respect for Dominic. I think he’s a great example of someone who doesn’t give up after the tough times he’s had and continues to suffer through injuries, trying to get back to the level he was at when he won at the Grand Slams,” he said.

“We hope he can stay to play as long as he can, because he is a very important player for our sport,” he added.

In addition, he gave his opinion on the evolution of tennis among young people, each time accompanied by a larger team.

“I’m always in favor of having a quality team around youhaving people who are experts in their field, who have experience, knowledge and understanding of psychology so they know how to reach out to you emotionally when you need help or space,” he said.

“For me, it’s different because I didn’t have a team until I was 18 or so. Until then I was sharing coaches, traveling in groups and stuff. It was a different time. I also grew up in Serbia, which at that time was going through poor time and economy is impossible,” he highlighted.

“But life is not always easy. You also have to learn through adversity. I remember the times when I was traveling alone, no one with me. This is a very important life experience for me, to understand how I can take care of myself, be independent. It is important to have a mixture of the two,” he said.